Nov 18 / Dress Recital & Rough Draft (Solos, Duets, Ensembles)

 

 

Program Rough-Draft

 

Modern Dance II / Fall Recital 2025

 

Every semester, Modern Dance II is the host of a dance recital that brings the work created by the students during the semester to full fruition. This semester, students have choreographed solo and ensemble pieces which reflect their creative process. Their pieces reference the legacy of the forerunners of modern dance in Europe and North America.  The students' works, listed in the program below, are an expression of their own stories. Welcome to a space where dance art matters!

 

 

P R O G R A M

 

Solos & Duets

 

1 

Solo: Mind: On the Motion of Thought

Dancer: Jack He 

A person is born and grows up. During his upbringing, religion influences him — it guides and supports him, yet also confines his vision. Eventually, he begins to question it, seeking to break free and think for himself about his own future

Solo: Ocean Breeze

 Dancer: Michael Torres 

The title for my solo is Ocean Breeze because it expresses soft and peaceful movements like the wind. As well as flowy movements like the ocean

 

Duet：Knight Duel

Dancers:  Jack He, Michael Torres 

Two men met and had a conflict. They fought each other and eventually became good friends.

 

2

 Solo: Untitled

Dancer: Actavius Jones

Music:  

 

Solo: Untitled

Dancer: Lonzo Drummond

Music: 

 

Solo: Untitled

Dancer: Lucy Veiner 

Music: 

 

Duet / Trio:  Untitled

Dancers:  Actavius Jones, Lonzo Drummond, Lucy Veiner 

 

3 

Solo: Waves

Dancer: Vittoria Papa 

Waves is the title of my solo dance piece that explores the idea of freedom and the different levels of life’s journey. Like the ocean, life moves in constant motion rising, falling, and flowing through moments of calm and chaos. Each movement in the piece represents a different “wave” or phase: the gentle beginnings of discovery, the turbulence of struggle, and the liberation found in acceptance and surrender. The choreography embodies the freedom of water.

 

 Solo: Privilege of Movement

Dancer: Liat Klemn

My solo piece is called privilege of movement. It resembles the freedom of the way my body moves and how grateful I am to move my body in these ways

 

Duet: Currents

 

Dancers: Vittoria Papa, Liat Klemn

 

Music:  “Nangs” by Tampa Impala

Currents is our duet title that explores the invisible forces that pull people together and apart — the emotional tides within relationships. 

4

Solo: "From Seed to Sky"

Dancer: Allie Knott

The title of my solo is "From Seed to Sky." It is about a dormant seed that overcomes several obstacles before it blooms and reaches its full potential.

 

Solo:  "Bursting the Bubble"

Dancer: Alexa Paulaitis

This story is about a girl who starts off living inside a "bubble" of perfection. But this bubble holds her back from realizing her full potential. At one point, she decides to break free or "burst" her bubble, exploring and embracing a different part of herself. In order to grow and find freedom, she must let go of her past self.

Duet: Enantiomers

 

Dancers: Allie Knott, Alexa Paulaitis

The title of our duet is "Enantiomers." It is about two molecules in space that are identical yet opposite. Their movements bring them together, while also moving them apart to tell a story about life

 

 5

Solo: "Undoing"

Dancer:  Anje

This piece feels like an undoing, not just of movement but of the mindset I’ve been trained in. Instead of focusing on precision, technique, or performance, I let myself move for the sake of discovering what’s underneath all of that. The circular and repetitive patterns mirror the process of breaking habits and returning to something more instinctive. Every gesture feels like unlearning, like letting my body think before my mind does. It’s an exploration of how movement can exist without structure; raw, imperfect, and honest.

 

Solo: Toward the Stars

Dancer: Bruna De Azevedo Lengler

Music: 

Inspired by Mário Quintana’s poem “Das Utopias”, this dance expresses the beauty of chasing dreams that may never be reached. It represents hope, persistence, and the meaning we find in moving forward (always toward the stars).

  

Duet: "Push and Pull" 

 

Dancers:  Ange , Bruna De Azevedo Lengler

 

Music: 

 

This duet explores the constant exchange of energy between two people, the way connection can feel like both resistance and release. Through movement, we explore balance, tension, and dependency, showing how two forces can oppose each other yet still move as one. “Push and Pull” reflects the shifting dynamics of partnership, where power and vulnerability trade places, and harmony is found not in stillness, but in the space between. This duet represents the strength and tension of friendship; two people connected through trust and conflict. It shows how bonds can both unite and challenge us.

 6

Solo: A Man at Work

Dancer: Andrew Saint Fleur

Music 

My story is about a man who needs to make calculated decisions about where and how he must move through life. Life is throwing many things at him and he has to react. Though he can't just react how he desires. He must conform and make sure his movements are intentional, or else the trials of work, relationships, and judgement will drag him down. Some times he reacts with sharp, sudden movements emulating the assertiveness and drive a man needs to be a provider. Other times, he rests from this busyness and moves slowly and controlled. 

 

Solo: How We Hold

Dancer: Gabriela Sanchez Yarza

My solo is about quiet, physical exploration of how humans hold on to their emotions, and to each other, to anger, to love, to hope. The choreography flows between softness and tension, showing the beauty and ache of emotional attachment.

Music:

 

Duet: Love on the Brain

 

Dancers:  Andrew Saint Fleur & Gabriela Sanchez Yarza 

 

Music:  Love on the Brain by Rihanna

Our dance talks of an abusive couple, where two people fight between the love and the hurt of their relationship, and eventually decide to part ways. It shows the nature of toxic relationships where the ups and downs are as frequent as emotions change. They have an abusive relationship that culminates in their own demise.

Our piece depicts two lovers going through the ups and downs of love and doing it in a way that's toxic. They push away then come back to each other. They hurt but then they offer a hand out. They hate but they love again. They are caught in this web of toxicity and move complementary to each other. 

 

 7

Solo: The Journey Begins

Dancer: Lily Dvorak 

 Music: Love is Complicated- Labrinth 

My solo is about moving from Virginia to Miami and how I’ve had to adapt really quickly being away from home for the first time. The solo will display the different emotions I’ve felt throughout the time adjusting.

 

 

Solo:  "Balance"

Dancer: Ella Libman  

 

Music: 

The name of my solo is "Balance." It reflects the idea that life is about finding balance between the many parts of life. It shows movement and connection which highlights this idea. 

 

Duet: Evolution of Friends

 

Dancers:  Lily Dvorak, Ella Libman

 

Music: Lust for Life- Lana Del Rey & The Weeknd

 

Our duet is about learning to be friends with space between each other. 

 

 8

 

 

Solo: Waves

 

Dancer: Stephanie Embil  

 

Music:Aura by Avoure

The title of my solo is Waves. My dance is going to represent the ocean and I will be the waves. During the bound movements, I will represent a storm at sea. When I do free flow movements. I will represent the calm of the ocean. 

 

Solo: Through the Wind

Dancer: Andrea Ledezma

Music: Stay by Rihanna

My solo is called Through the Wind. Through the wind is about going through the different directions, stages, and emotions of life. The song has a steady rhythm and beat. It feels consistent with the emotion expressed and has a touching effect. I found the song easy to move to and add to my piece.

 

Duet: Petals

Dancers:  Stephanie Embil,  Andrea Ledezma.

Music: 

 Our duet's name is Petals . We represent flowers growing in the Spring. Our duet is going to be danced to Le Vie en Rose Instrumental by Samuel De Dilva. Andrea and I will be doing our solos to the same song. 

 

9

 

Solo: Untitled

Dancer : Maddie Alarcon

 Music: ?

 

Solo: Untitled

Dancer: Michael Safir

Music: ?

 

Duet: Untitled

Dancers:  Michael Safir

Music: ? 

  

 

 10

Solo: Beyond Words

 

Dancer: Olivia Kramer  

 

Music:  Unwritten by Natasha Bedingfield

We need stories in dance because they give movement meaning and emotional connection, allowing audiences to relate personally and understand the human experience beyond words.

 

 

 

Ensembles 

 

1 

 The Tide Within

Vittoria Papa, Lonzo, Sydney 

Music: Tame Impala’s “The Less I Know the Better”

The Tide Within for our ensemble expands on the theme of freedom and flow by representing a collective journey. The ensemble embodies the rhythm of community and the power of many voices moving as one.

 

2

Echoes 

Mia, Anje, Maddie, Lily

Music:  Paradise Circus Gui Boratto Remix- Massive Attack (Start at minute 1:30)

Our ensemble is called echoes, representing how we all echo each other in our own frequencies. We all do the same movements, but have our own positioning, flare and individual elements that come together to make a cohesive piece. It is a reflection of how a group piece comes together because of the individuals that are a part of it, and the strength and impact the piece has wouldn't be possible without all the individual "echoes". Again, we dance in sync but aren’t together. We dance in “echos”

 

3 

Freedom, Confidence, Power

Andrew Saint Fleur, Andrea, Gaby, Bruna, Stephanie

 

Music:  Fergalicious Instrumental

Our dance is all about expressing ourselves in many different ways. We have elegant moves that are calculated and ballet-esque. We have moves that are more hip and show personality through rhythmic movements. We have the freedom, confidence, and power to move how we desire as a group. We embody plenty of energy and movement that comes from doing it together. The ensemble piece celebrates expression through unity. The choreography explores how movement becomes a shared language one built on trust, individuality, and strength. This ensemble piece is full of energy and movement. It is about the freedom, confidence, and power that comes from dancing together as a group. 

 

4

Untitled

Dancers: Arantza Suarez,  Michael Safir,  Allie Knot, Alexa Paulaitis, 

Music: Kung Fu Fighting

Synopsis:

 

5

Untitled

Dancers: Lucy Vernier, Actavius Jones, Michael Torres, Jack He 

Music:

Synopsis: